Ulster Bank League: Division 1A Previews

The Ulster Bank League kicks of this weekend with top flight club rugby action all over Ireland. Lansdowne open the defence of their title against a UCD side packed with talent and ambition. It could be a cracker!

ULSTER BANK LEAGUE: DIVISION 1A: Saturday, September 28

Kick-off 2.30pm unless stated -

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LANSDOWNE v UCD, Aviva Stadium back pitch

Preview: Lansdowne will open their defence of the Division 1A title with a really tough test against UCD on the back pitch at the Aviva Stadium.

The students showed when beating Shannon 42-0 in the relegation/promotion play-off at the end of last season that they are more than capable of making an impact in the top flight.

Danny Kenny has gone to London Irish but there is plenty of talent remaining, most notably through the pace of Sam Coghlan Murray, Andrew Boyle and Barry Daly in their back-three.

UCD beat Lansdowne in the Leinster Senior League Cup recently but both sides were well understrength. The big question for Lansdowne is how they are going to get on without out-half Craig Ronaldson, now on Connacht's books.

Despite having to rejig his side to some extent because of the loss of Ronaldson and others, Lansdowne head coach Mike Ruddock is sure to put a very strong line-up on the park.

Former Munster back Scott Deasy has joined from Cork Constitution and it will be interesting to see if he features against the students.

Preview: It is great to have an Ulster side back in the top flight and a good one at that. Ballynahinch were hugely impressive in topping Division 1B last season.

Remember, they finished ahead of UCD which was quite an achievement. They have one of the most consistent players around in centre Stuart Morrow.

Their opening home game against Cork Constitution should give them some idea where they stand.

Cork Con were somewhat more erractic than usual in the league last season, but they did finish their year really well with a fine victory over St. Mary's in the Ulster Bank Bateman Cup final.

Tom Mulcahy, Mick O'Driscoll and Terry Dillon make up the new coaching set-up following the departure of Brian Walsh.

Winger Cronan Healy has gone back to Australia, while second rows Brian Hayes and Philip Donnellan are trying their luck in France - but Cork Con are still expected to be very competitive under the captaincy of scrum half Gerry Hurley.

Recent League Meetings - N/A

IrishRugby.ie Prediction: Ballynahinch to win by 1-5 points

GARRYOWEN v DOLPHIN, Dooradoyle

Preview: In theory, Garryowen should be more competitive this season following the relegation of Shannon and UL Bohemians to Division 1B.

But that is not always the way it works out. For much of last season, they were up at the top of the table alongside Lansdowne but they eventually ran out of steam.

They have a top class coaching set-up led by Tom Tierney and Paul Neville, while their recent 70-10 anihiliation of Richmond in the first round of the Munster Senior Cup suggests that they are in reasonable shape.

Dolphin are always competitive. David O'Callaghan is an outstanding back rower and they have made a top class signing in Ireland Under-20 winger Darren Sweetnam.

Preview: After a couple of seasons of having to put in a late burst to avoid relegation, Old Belvedere would like nothing better than to make a good start to their campaign.

But that is going to be very difficult against a hugely consistent Clontarf outfit. Andy Wood's team enjoyed a top class campaign last season before going down 31-26 in what proved to be league title-deciding game against Lansdowne.

The north Dubliners should be there and there abouts again this season. Old Belvedere, for their part, have a new coach in the former Garryown man Paul Cunningham.

No doubt, he will be looking for his team to continue to play an expansive game with promising number 8 Jack Conan and full-back Danny Riordan two key players.

Preview: It has been a difficult lead-up to the league for St. Mary's with their new skipper Darragh Fanning spending his time on the wing for Leinster.

Darren Hudson has also featured for the province, while two more of their leading backs from last season, Philip Brophy and Stephen Grissing, have retired. But St. Mary's have made a very good signing in former Dublin University out-half Cathal Marsh.

Young Munster have seen their player-coach Mike Prendergast and out-half Shane O'Leary depart to Grenoble. John Staunton and Mick Lynch form the Cookies' new coaching set-up.

They have had a difficult enough start to the season, but there have been rumours that they are trying to get ace place-kicker Willie Staunton back from Terenure College.

Looking forward to facing England on Sunday, Ireland winger Tommy Bowe said: "We've trained very well this week, we're really excited about the game. It's about going out there and doing whatever we can to get ourselves that win."

Second row Devin Toner previews Ireland's crunch RBS 6 Nations clash with England, saying: "It's a pretty formidable English pack. Attwood and Kruis have played fantastically well. They're well drilled and focused and their scrum and lineout are very good."

Looking forward to facing England this weekend, Ireland back rower Sean O'Brien said: "It's obviously exciting, but it's one game at a time. I don't think there's any more pressure on us than in the first two games. That's the way you have to look at it."

Irish Rugby TV sat down with Ireland Under-20 scrum coach John Fogarty to talk about the U-20 Six Nations so far and Friday's clash with England at Donnybrook. Tickets are on sale on www.ticketmaster.ie.

Shane Byrne and Malcolm O'Kelly preview the Ireland v England Legends match which takes place at Donnybrook this coming Saturday (kick-off 7.30pm). Tickets are available from www.ticketmaster.ie. All proceeds from the game will go to support the IRFU Charitable Trust and the RFU All Schools Charity.

Watch highlights from the Ireland team announcement press conference as Joe Schmidt reveals the team to play France. Peter O'Mahony says it is good to 'have some big figures back' for Saturday's clash.